Automated extraction of fault surfaces from 3-D seismic prospect

Details Automated extraction of fault surfaces from 3-D seismic prospect Automated extraction of fault surfaces from 3-D seismic prospect

1997-12-26

1999-11-16

McElheny, Jr., Donald E.

Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing

Measurement system in a specific environment

Earth science

367 70, G06F 1900

Patent

active

059873884

ABSTRACT:
An automated method of processing a fault-enhanced 3-D seismic volume (V) to locate and interpret faults is disclosed. The method includes processing of individual lateral slices (LS.sub.j) of the volume (V). For each slice (LS.sub.j), stripe artifacts are eliminated (36) by adjusting pixel values to account for lines that are unduly bright or dim (and thus artifacts of processing). Linear features are enhanced by applying a modified Gumey-Vanderburg algorithm (62) to pixel windows, such that intensity values of pixels are enhanced according to the extent to which the pixels reside in a line. Detection of lines in the enhanced lateral slice is then performed by summing pixel intensities over a window at varying directions (72), and associating, with a center pixel, an amplitude value corresponding to the maximum sum and a direction value associated with this sum. The amplitude and direction values are used to trace lines (84) by examining adjacent pixels of high amplitude in directions similar to the direction values of locally maximum amplitude values. The resulting vectors are linked (44) among lateral slices into surfaces that are representative of faults.

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